Israel Uncensored: European Flag Football Championship is a Touchdown for Jerusalem

gosh hastin here Israel uncensored on the Land of Israel network at the Land of Israel calm it is Monday September 2nd 2019 the second of Elul five seven seven nine thanks so much for joining us we're gonna go right to the phone right now for a very special interview with Steve Leibovitz he is the founder and president of American football in Israel Israel over the weekend just hosted the 2019 flag football European Championship was the first time ever the European Championship was here in Israel what a production it was I was actually there covering the games doing the online broadcast for three days I think I covered about 16 games in total in the intense heat it was an amazing experience watching all these teams so many different countries 21 teams in total arriving here to compete men's and women's and it was a beautifully run and organized tournament so many logistics that go into it you don't even know but the man who put it all together at the top of that of the food chain in the world of football here Steve Leibovitz joins us now Steve are you awake this morning I'm awake and I'm trying to recover from a wild party that they have at the end of the tournament when everyone just celebrates and Josh I got to say the thing that was most important to me is the fact that not only there was hosted him in Israel but that this tournament was hosted in Jerusalem this was as far as I understand the largest team sport major championship ever held in the city of Jerusalem and you know I really wanted it here I wanted a you know Israel Jerusalem should also be on the international sports map it was very important to me that had happened and we made it happen how many first of all congratulations on that feat no doubt how many total participants were there how many players arrived men's Dan was over 400 players just over 40 players and then there's all the support staff there's the coaches and the trainers and the doctors and lawyers not no lawyers and about a hundred extra people so we're about five hundred players in the city well included our team so you know our team well his team's a part of it and it couldn't 21 teams from 12 different nations including a couple of teams that have never played international football before no site in particular Russia right which has really emerged on the international football team now and made their first step in that direction into Jerusalem yeah I actually I watched the Russian women's team on day one and they actually gave team Israel a run for their money when this was Russia's first international competition and that's a tribute to their coaching and of course to their players so Spain wins the women's tournament which was kind of a surprise there and Denmark wins the men's tournament which was no surprise at all there they Denmark being one of the top teams in the world not only in Europe but in the entire world if you can let's comment on the winners first of all Denmark and Spain winning the tournaments respectively well yeah Denmark does this is their fifth straight gold medal although I have to say that in the opening days everyone the buzz around the the tournament was that Denmark is winning but is struggling in their wins and they're giving up a lot of points and they can be beaten and when it came to money time on Sunday they put their their game face on and they just ripped through and sailed to the gold that yet had the best team of the men's teams in Europe without a question they're number two in the world currently after the United States in flight football on the women's side the shocked because everyone thought Austria would sail through there clearly the best team internationally in Europe I would say that they still are even though they didn't win the championship but the Spanish women emerged they opening two days they only finished third in their group barely making it to the playoff time petition they played Israel in the quarter-final a really really tough game the Spanish managed to win and they went on to win the championship shocking to everyone they've only had been playing for about three or four this is I think their third european championship and and and they have the gold but I would still on any given Sunday I would take or stir yeah the Austrian quarterback I mean she had some moves there like a professional quarterback I mean she was doing some ball fakes you know and taking you know taking the defense out of it and throwing the ball downfield I mean you're talking about things you see from Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and some of these professional quarterbacks she was excellent and their team was excellent so there is no room for it inside football the game is so short there's often no room for mistakes that when you're going against the team it's better than you like you can complete you can score against them let's go against you but if you make you break down at one point I'll take advantage and suddenly the game's out of reach and that apparently is what happened with Austria in this in their game you know they were knocked off by England right they were knocked off by the women of Great Britain who are I would consider them all a team of rookies but a team of rookies that they were the only team that on Saturday on Shabbat instead of resting touring or doing you know just enjoying the city of Jerusalem they went out and spent two and a half hours going over and over and over their system and they came out more ready than Austria and they beat them it was a that was a shocking result but in the end Britain lost in the final to spate yeah and Great Britain they're producing the women's MVP of the tournament Marta Matthews and we were calling her name from the broadcast booth all day long all tournament long she was an unbelievable wide receiver making amazing catches catches along the water line getting one later but I'd rather write about our MVP Disraeli yeah Loni Eastman was chosen MVP for the entire ornaments and a man I was shocked I was shocked I have to say I went over and spoke to the tournament director I said how is that chosen you know I don't want people to think that Israel somehow influenced that choice right he said all the officials vote there are 20 over 20 referees from all the different countries we vote we got together it was 15 hands immediately going up and saying number 20 from Israel Wow amazed really and I said to him when I when I asked you know when I said Israel won the MVP award but I hadn't yet said the name in the closing ceremony people that were listening to be thought that I was about to say Danny Mikhailov the area number 87 the receiver and I asked I told that to Martin cockerel the tournament director he said well the other five referees thought that that miss Elif should get the MVP award so all twenty people thought that the man meant MVP award to go - what is it - Israelis he forgot East well I I thought as watching as a spectator I thought that the quarterback from Italy had a chance of winning MVP he had a phenomena man he was a division division two college football I called him I called him Loomis Clerk I forgot his let Luke something I called him Cool Hand Luke the way he had you know just methodically moving his team down the field time and time again Italy their scoring points with Chris or against Israel he scored 56 46 all right and Italy getting the silver medal and I have to tell you I've never seen anything like this at the end of the game when Italy lost Denmark in the finals of the men's the Italian coaches and some players were literally hysterical crying just to show you how much this game meant to them and how much they had hoped to win the tournament in tears on the sidelines you're talking about grown man playing football and Josh gerrett no Josh I have to admit to you that I had high hopes for the Israeli teams and the tournament and running it and everything was really important to me when the Israeli men and the Israeli women lost on Sunday I shed some tears for my team we put a lot of energy and emotion into this a lot of work during the whole year to get a team ready to go to a championship you have high hopes you reach the medal round and get there and then the other team is also putting out as much as they can and you fall short it's it's heartbreaking it is yeah and the man if you cheers you get over it and get ready for the next time just to clarify the Israeli men finishing in fourth losing the bronze medal game to France a team the only team that had beaten them on the first day of play so Israel finishing fourth and the men's the wind of finishing sixth both of them had a chance for medals and going into the Sunday Championships Sunday it looked like at least one of the teams would metal unfortunately they did it but Steve I'm gonna tell you here that I believe that the future is bright I mean this might have been one of the best men's team ever even though they didn't medal and the women have been consistent for many many years now so I think the future is bright what do you say I have to say we're in the women's side with a rebuilding situation some of our best players over the years are either in their last year at the team or no longer with the team and it's going to be the young students it's going to be the 16 17 18 year old women's generation of athletes who are actually trying to recruit more athletes on the women's side there aren't enough women playing flight football yet in this country to to choose from for the national team and we have to improve on that side of the men are spectacular athletes our men put more points on the board I haven't checked the final thing but I think our offense was the most productive offense in the entire tournament and on defense we know we broke down so we have to rethink some of the things that we did because we gave up way way way too many points offense I think we've added figured out we've got some unbelievable talents we'll be back next year is the world championship in Denmark we'll be there and we'll perform well certainly looking forward to that World Championships and I'm sure both teams men's and women's will already be getting ready they'll shake off this tournament and those who are disappointed in little you know there's involved for Denver's and politics involved with this stuff I'm sure there are I usually definitely know how to get into that too much technology that's here 15 years I've been battling for Israel to be able to participate in tournaments without our players having to play on the Sabbath I'm sure yeah that's important and we're under a lot of pressure now because Denmark is planning to do its World Championship with team is required to play on Shabbat and I think I've put my foot down and we're not going to do it which is not going to do it we're gonna use all the political pressure we can to convince Denmark to make make accommodations we're an important part of the international have all seen it was it's hard to explain you know over and over to to non-jews frankly just how important this is to us especially since every other Israeli national team in every other sport will play on Saturday right then I won't that makes the a fight I won't do it and that's that's I won't do that's unbelievable to stick to your principles you know even probably me it's not only me we're a community this is a community of you know American football players here men and women and it includes a large percentage of people who are observant right and even it's just I'm not but it's just wrong that Orthodox Jews cannot take part in national teams because their teams play on Saturday there whoa there actually has been some Knesset legislation I think try in the works over the last couple years trying to create in an environment and I think you guys are at the forefront of that for Israeli athletes who in until now have been forced to compete on Shabbat even here in Israel and I know I a friend of mine was was actually working with the Knesset in Israel trying to create a fair environment so that those who observe the Sabbath don't have to play on the Sabbath but even those who are not observant on the team I think it's just a you know a general principle which I applaud the AFI for saying even if you keep Shabbat don't keep Shabbat it is the day of rest for Jews around the world regardless of your level of those observance or how you choose to keep Shabbat but I think not playing on Shabbat is a tremendous hats off to you guys for keeping that principle and let's hope Denmark does the right thing for next year I know all you know up until now many of the countries have been very very accommodating and perhaps this year's tournament here in Israel and all the other teams will see that they were also given the Shabbat even if they're not even Jewish they were given that day of rest perhaps they'll realize hey it was an amazing thing to have a for a three-day tournament over four days with a day of rest in between yeah so maybe I'm just really the I think it improved plays well yeah I think the final day was much better than it would have been if you'd have to play three days of a row the day of this is a killer of a sport you know I was talking the beginning about the the late night party I spoke to you about a baby we were weren't yet recording that takes place when the tournament is over you know I saw 5060 people like limping into the hall right I mean they're in pain this is a game of constant running it's not like even tackle football while you're in the huddle that's because of the game they're running all the time sprinting downfield play after play it's it's a tough sport yeah it certainly is and Steve we are we are nearly out of time here again I just want to congratulate you for putting together a well organized unbelievably organized tournament people don't realize all the details that go in from scheduling the games the referees and even the team buses I mean every last detail taken care of by you and your amazing staff at American football in Israel all the beauty I'm not going to list all the names so many of them all the different people involved in the volunteers and the fans who come out and everything was really done in such a high level even the lunches whatever you guys did a great job and I want to thank you so much if anybody out there is listening and they live in Israel they want to get involved in the league and they want to play football in Israel or if there were people out there it's a nonprofit organization who want to sponsor the next tournament the next event whatever it is how can people reach you Steve how can you reach it you want me to give my phone number I mean if you give your email email is easy Israel football at yahoo.com Israel football at yahoo.com Steve Leibovitz founder of American football in Israel some 25 years ago and now Israel hosting top-level competitions out out Josh - Robert because yes star of this entire tournament was the Kraft family sports campus right there all the guys held it it was a hit that's where all the games were held and it was a huge hit for everyone has a venue for international sports competition Steve congratulations on the tournament let's--oh four medals for Israel and the next time around at the world championships have a great day get some rest I hear your voice is a little bit off after all the talking and yelling and cheering and everything you did over the last three days get some sleep and I'm sure you're gonna wake up tomorrow morning start start preparing for Team Israel we have a tackle to him having to travel to Turkey and two weeks there you go no no time to resolve all your yeah it's a great game it's a great sport and it was a wonderful tournament just happy to play play a small role in it so thanks so much the a big role Thank You Josh have a great day take care we're gonna take a short break right now come back with news here from Israel escalating in the north of the country and much more you're listening to Israel uncensored on the Land of Israel network at the Land of Israel calm my name is Josh hastin here on Monday September 2nd 2019 hos dreamless Agora that is the expression and Hebrew it means going back to your routine September 1st essentially is the end of summer kids go back to school people on vacation are back at work things are back to normal if you call they want to call that normal life is never normal here in Israel all was very exciting I would call it normal always exciting and stimulating and many other things here in the Jewish state but hosiery unless she Gras that is the Hebrew lesson of the day we're gonna take a short break be right back with much much more here don't go anyway Prime Minister Netanyahu Benny guns avi door Lieberman yeah b-but Seles mantra Moshe Feiglin what's going on behind the scenes as Israelis prepare to go to the polls on September 17th tune in to inside Israel today on the Land of Israel network on the Land of Israel calm for all the action as it happened and we are back a stay near Israel and censored the Land of Israel at the Land of Israel calm can't touch somebody during the week Joshua the Land of Israel calm on Facebook Joshua hastened on my page Josh hastin Israel advocacy and journalism on Twitter at Josh a Stan and on Instagram as well thanks again to Steve Leibovitz president of American football in Israel and again I covered all of the online live games not all of them and I covered a lot of about 16 games over three days let me tell you last night I just crashed with my glasses on face down in the pillow it was hot out there and these athletes are amazing from being able for their ability to withstand the heat and play at such a high level Denmark the second best team in the world taking the championship therefore on the men's side and Spain on the women's side it was a beautiful tournament and of course as Steve said took place here in Jerusalem the capital of Israel and the Jewish people so very very special getting to the news here Times of Israel reports and as does everyone else here a Saturday night Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah threatened that a Lebanese response to last week's events could strike anywhere along the border and in fact there was a strike on Sunday because volaterrae group fired several anti-tank guided missiles at an army base and a military jeep just inside Israel's northern border on Sunday afternoon we knew something was coming and that so far was their response Israel says the IDF says that it launched artillery cannons and attack helicopters firing approximately 100 shells and bombs echoes Bala in retaliation for their strike on Sunday Prime Minister Netanyahu saying that no Israelis were so much as scratched by the Hezbollah attack he said the following there were no Israeli injuries not even a scratch smiling Netanyahu said this at the opening of a Honduras diplomatic office in Jerusalem which we'll talk about here in just a minute the military said visible operatives fire two or three missiles at a battalion headquarters outside of the Israeli community of avi Veeam in the north and at military vehicles shortly after 4:15 p.m. in the afternoon Israel time on some on Sunday several of the projectiles struck their targets did not cause any casualties despite the fact of Hezbollah they went on their TV of course their propaganda television claimed that they caused Israeli casualties very tense situation right now in northern Israel we will have to see how it plays out over the days and weeks ahead I know that everyone in the north there is under high alert bomb shelters were opened for Israeli residents in certain areas and we'll have to see how it plays out over the coming days weeks and months ahead on Israel's northern border of course in the South we always have we're always on high alert down there also as a result of Hamas also an Iranian backed terror organization who control Gaza and other news here The Jerusalem Post reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday said that Israel will apply sovereignty to all communities in Judea and Samaria here it says West Bank settlements I don't use that terminology as he celebrated the prime minister celebrated the first day of school with first graders in the community of Elkanah in that's a Judea and Samaria community this is I think believed the second time that the Prime Minister publicly has said he would not uproot any Jewish communities he said with God's help we will apply Jewish sovereignty over all communities as part of the Land of Israel in the State of Israel and I say yes I say I hope that this is I say I hope that this is not at just an election ploy I hope full sovereignty will be applied over all Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria on ona and over all Judea and Samaria eventually he said the following the Prime Minister said we are building new homes here this is a new home that is an old home this is the old original home of the Jewish people and we will build more in Elkanah we will not uproot anyone here he said there will be no more Gush Katif referring to the 2005 expulsion of all jews from gaza and the destruction of 21 jewish communities and four communities in the northern Shomron so let's let's hold the Prime Minister to his promise if he in fact becomes Israel's next prime minister as well a little bit of political news here former MK Moshe Feiglin as reported by The Jerusalem Post from the zut party the members of that party voted on Sunday to accept a deal which Fagan reached with the prime minister and as a result of that deals the who would quit the 7 September 17th race which is only two weeks from Tuesday will be voting in the Israeli Knesset elections once again in return for promises of passing legislation legalizing medical cannabis and fagelah and becoming a minister so bottom line is Fagin says I will drop my party out of the race therefore nobody will vote for is a hoot and all those votes will go to other most likely right-wing parties so on one hand I mean I think that's a positive step we need less and less parties there on the right so that votes aren't wasted so people aren't voting for party parties that don't cross the electoral threshold that's very very important but not everyone is happy Raffaele a menace who's number five on the who thinks the deal was a mistake saying there's no real value in Netanyahu's promises based on his past track record he doesn't believe that Netanyahu will keep his end of the bargain whether it's the legalization of cannabis or giving Moshe Feiglin a ministerial post I remember several elections ago when Moshe Feiglin was in the Knesset with the Likud Party the Prime Minister was not happy about that there was a big laocoön event I think it was a Central Committee gathering of some sort somehow I was there and the Prime Minister who didn't want to have anything to do with fagelah now the two are working out a deal here in which is a hoot were draught will drop out of politics so bottom line it's all politics folks one day your best friend is your worst enemy and vice versa there Phegley now working out a deal with the prime minister personally I think it's the right move that's who dropped out I don't think they were good across the electoral threshold and I just have been been a bunch of wasted votes so I think that is positive also reported by the Jay post we mentioned it before Honduras is on its way to opening an embassy in Jerusalem on Sunday yesterday they inaugurated a diplomatic trade office in our capital Prime Minister Netanyahu said in an interview by his lahood party which was posted by his LaHood party on Saturday night he said that this is good news US envoy Jason green but also welcomed Sunday's opening of the Honduran trade office in Jerusalem and I believe that the the Prime Minister of Honduras president rather Juan Orlando Hernandez who arrived in Israel yesterday said for me it's the recognition that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel so another country while they do not have an official embassy yet Honduras looks like they're moving into the realm of the u.s. Guatemala and everyone else who is finally finally recognizing that Israel's capital is Jerusalem and therefore their Embassy should be there this is a step in the right direction and while we started with sports news we're gonna finish again with sports news Israeli judoka soggy mouki crowned world champion in Tokyo this was an unbelievable event as the Israeli flag raised and the singing of Hatikva Mookie 27 years old from Netanya wins gold at the 2019 World Championships in the under 81 kilogram weight class and of course what was interesting which should not have been a news item but the fact that he defeated an Egyptian in the semi finals and the Egyptian fighter refused to shake his hand this is not the first time we've seen the scene this type of behavior by Egypt by Egyptian athletes refusing to shake the hands of Israelis nevertheless the Israeli Mookie beat him at the same time an Iranian would-be opponent refused this reporter by the Jewish pressed by the way it would be Iranian opponent during the tournament refused to even fight him okay so we have Iran not even willing to fight a Jew Egypt not willing to shake the hands of a Jew and that is the reality so what was the best way to stick it to them all soggy Mookie crowned world champion in Tokyo in judo unbelievable beautiful beautiful to see that's gonna do it for today folks my name is Josh hastin for September 2nd 2019 you're listening to Israel uncensored on the Land of Israel network at the Land of Israel calm get in touch with me during the week Josh at the Land of Israel calm I appreciate each and every email Facebook Joshua hastin or Josh haste in Israel advocacy and journalism on Twitter at Josh hastin and on Instagram Israel big shout out to Benjamin brettski Ben brettski for all the work he does behind the scenes editing these shows and getting them up along with Tabitha Epstein who does so much behind the scenes as well have a great week everyone from most importantly between now when we speak again please God next Monday everyone out there on the wonderful world of ours be safe Shalom Shalom from a beautiful day here in Jerusalem eternal capital of the Jewish people in the State of Israel Shalom Zionism political and secular says ben-gurion held that Israel must be redeemed by its own efforts and by natural agency that the Jewish people on its own must create the foundations of a new life well I'm definitely looking to found a new life my people in the land although I'm not so sure we could do it on our own zom rob my foyer and this is the Jewish story join Roth Mike foyer for the best Jewish history podcast the Jewish story odd moe and the visceral network at